Bloggers beware.

So here's the thing, I think I've been a bit naive about this whole blogging caper. I write on my blog when I have something to say or something to show. I write knowing there are a lot of people around the world who read my blog, but I write for the people in my blogging community, those that leave comments and those whose blogs I read. I try to be as honest as I can, keeping in mind that once I press publish that I am putting my words and pictures out into the world and they will be there forever.

I, like most of you (I assume), am a mother, a wife, I make stuff, I try my best to make a valuable contribution to my community, I try to juggle work and family, I struggle to find my own identity within all of this and I am a blogger.

But then yesterday two things happened that made me question this whole thing.

1) Yesterday I made a throw away comment on my blog about a business my family often frequent. I wrote it not thinking that anyone who had anything to do with this business would ever read it. It was by no means a review.

But then late last night the owner of that business commented on that post.

Beware blog writers, you never know who is reading your blog and who has a google alert out for something you are accidentally reviewing.

2) After I read Brad's comment, I started googling around trying to work out how he had found my blog. I typed in his business name and latest and my blog came up second. The blog that came up first completely threw me. That blog had a different title to mine but contained my post in its entirety, photos and all. What it didn't have was any links to my blog or any explanation that that post was stolen from another blog.

Once I clicked onto that blog I found that it is made up of about four other blogs. Each time the four of us update our blogs, our posts are also added to their blog.

Other than that it looks like a normal blog with giveaways and recipes and all that.

Since I found it last night I have felt a bit sick. I am aware that when I press publish that I lose control of my posts but still I never expected to have my blog identity stolen like this.

Bren thinks its not such a big deal. He says they aren't trying to sell anything, they have no profile or identity except for their blog name and that they are just kind of like a collection of blogs.

I have written a comment asking them to remove my posts. That publishing my posts without asking permission or linking to me is rude and wrong. A few of my blog friends have done the same (thanks). They haven't published our comments or done anything about our request.

Grrrrrrr

What do you think?

Am I overreacting?

Oh and from now on I am going to end my posts with a link to my blog. Something like this;

Love Kate from foxslane.blogspot.com/